Dallas Stars Development Camp 2014: Defensemen and Goaltenders

Dallas Stars Development Camp 2014: Defensemen and GoaltendersHere are profiles of Dallas defense and goaltending prospects attending this year\u2019s development camp, which runs from July 9-12 in Frisco.

Here are profiles of Dallas defense and goaltending prospects attending this year’s development camp, which runs from July 9-12 in Frisco.

Bystrom registered 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 51 games for Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League last season. He had no points in 10 playoff games as Farjestad made it to the SHL championship series. Bystrom will play in Sweden again next season.

Stars assistant GM Les Jackson: “He had a good season with Farjestad. He’s progressing along fine. He played lots of key minutes with them. Like lots of young kids, we’ve got to get him stronger and heavier, but he is progressing fine in his game.”

Hansson played a majority of the season for Rogle in Sweden’s second highest league, registering 13 points (2 goals, 11 assists) in 47 games. He picked up 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) in 16 postseason games. He will play for Sweden’s Under-20 team this August at the Lake Placid, New York tournament during the USA national junior evaluation camp. He’ll play in Sweden again next season.

Jackson: “I didn’t see him a lot this year, but the reports are that he is taking some good steps in his development. J.J. [McQueen, Stars player development coordinator] is working with him off the ice. He’s in a good situation with Rogle. He’s a good player, smart, impressive puck skills. He’s in the right place now for his age.”

A sixth round pick in the 2014 draft, Haydon registered 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 61 games for Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League. He had no points in seven playoff games.

Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell: “He’s a big, strong, physical guy that skates pretty well. He is a simple player. He’s not an offensive threat by any means, but he is going to make you pay in your own end. “
Julius Honka
D
First round (14th overall) 2014
Age: 18
HT/WT: 5-11/180
Shoots: Right
2013-14 Team: Swift Current (WHL)

The Stars’ first round pick in 2014 led rookie WHL defensemen in scoring with 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) in 62 games for Swift Current. He registered 2 goals in 6 playoff games. He won a gold medal with Finland at 2014 World Junior Championship, picking up one assist in seven games as youngest player on roster. He will play for Finland’s Under-20 team this August at the Lake Placid, New York tournament during the USA national junior evaluation camp. He could play in Finland next season.

Stars GM Jim Nill: “He’s highly skilled, he moves the puck well, he moves it out of his end well, he is a right-shot and he can run a power play. We are excited about his potential.”

A fifth round pick in this summer’s draft, Karjalainen played with Jokerit’s Under-18 team this season. He had 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 38 games. He’s expected to play for HIFK’s Under-20 team in Finland next season.

Stars director of European scouting Kari Takko: “You can see that the size is there. This guy is mean, he is big and there is something special there. If he turns out to be a player, he is going to be a good shutdown defenseman. He has a good shot. The coordination is still a little off because of the size and he is just learning to train. What we liked most about him is the heart and the willingness to play for the team.”

Lindell played most of the season in Finland’s top league, registering 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 44 games. He had 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 7 games as Finland won the gold medal at the 2014 World Junior Championship. He’ll play in Finland’s top league this coming season.

Jackson: “He had a good season, he was a dominant player for Finland at the World Junior and carried a lot of key minutes. He’s on track. We’re going to play him in the Finnish League this year and I suspect we’ll bring him over at the end of next year to see how he does and then the following season he’ll be in the American League. He has the right stuff.”

Makela missed the first part of the season with injury. He played 25 games with Ilves Under-20 team in Finland, registering 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 25 games. He had no points in 9 games with Ilves in Finland’s top league. Will play for Finland’s U20 team this August at the Lake Placid, New York tournament during the USA national junior evaluation camp. He’ll play in Finland next season.

Jackson: “He’s doing well. He broke his hand early in the year, but Kari [Takko] said he’s done well. He’s in a great place and a great situation.”

Nyberg, a sixth round pick in 2014, played for Frolunda’s J18 and J20 teams this past season. He had 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) in 16 division round games at the J18 level. He had 4 points (1 goals, 3 assists) in 16 J20 games. He’s expected to play at the J20 level next season.

Takko: “He’s a puck mover, a two-way defenseman. He has a heavy shot and he’s a smart guy.”

The Stars’ third round pick in 2014, Peters played for Plymouth of the OHL, 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 50 games. He’s considered a defensive defenseman.

McDonnell: “He’s a big kid already. He moves really well. He can make the simple play, and what he has to do now is start working on his overall puck skill game. He has no problem with that other than maybe a little bit fancier type thing. He’s very capable of making that first outlet pass.”

Prapavessis, a fourth round pick in 2014, played for Toronto Lakeshore of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season, registering 55 points (5 goals, 50 assists) in 47 games. He won several OJHL awards including Best Defenseman, First All-Star Team and Most Gentlemanly Player. He will play college hockey at RPI.

RPI coach Seth Appert: “Michael is an incredibly intelligent hockey player. His skill level speaks for itself, but the one thing that always translates as players advance to the next levels in their career is hockey intelligence, and he’s got it. He’s chosen a great route. He needs time in practice and the weight room, because he’s young and not physically mature yet. His body has room for growth. To be an elite offensive defenseman – in college or eventually the NHL – you have to have a scoring shot, and that’s something he’ll be able to work on.”

The seventh round pick in 2014 registered 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists) in 64 games for Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League. He had no points in four playoff games.

McDonnell: “For his size he moves really well. He’s not an offensive threat at all, but he is going to be hard to play against. He has the wing span of, you know, big. He’s just going to be a guy that is tough to play against. We really loved his size and skating. He’s a real character kid.”

Sinitsyn led Regina defensemen in scoring with 44 points (10 goals, 34 assists) in 69 games. Had no points in four playoff games. He likely will play another season of junior hockey.

Jackson: “He had a pretty good year in Regina. He had some challenges at the beginning of the year and some at the end, but he made big strides in his game. He’s got a few things to learn defensively and details without the puck, but he has a good puck game, he’s smart and he makes good plays. He’s a big man who can do a lot of good things. I think there is something there, we just have to keep working with him and be patient.”

Registered 29 points (8 goals, 21 assists) in 59 games with Charlottetown of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Picked up 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 4 playoff games. Finished out the season with Elmira of the ECHL, registering 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 4 games. He will turn pro this coming season.

Jackson: “It was good for him to go back and play as a 20-year-old. The coach there did a real good job with him. Next year we’ll start him in Austin and see how he does. He’s a kid that started late in hockey and doesn’t have the background and coaching of a lot of kids. He’s big, he’s raw. We like where he is at and we just have to be patient with him. He’s got something good, we just have to get him some games and get him rolling at the pro level.”

Ranked fourth in goals against average (2.65) and seventh in save percentage (.907) while posting a 31-14-7 record with Rimouski of the QMJHL this past season. Set a QMJHL record with a 243:35 shutout streak during the season. Posted a 7-3 record with a 2.34 goals against average and .917 save percentage. Has been invited to Canada’s National Junior Development camp.

Jackson: “He had another strong season. Andy Moog got to work with him and Mike Valley has been working with him. The kid has a pro attitude and pro style game. He’s done really well. He’s in a good place. He’ll go back to junior next season, get a lot of games, a lot of growth and move forward.”

Played in both juniors and in Finland’s top league last season. In the top league, he posted a 1-10-1 record, 2.92 goals against average and .881 save percentage for the worst team in the league. Will come to North America to play this season.

Jackson: “We’ll have to find him a place to play. Kari [Takko] believes in him. He’s got an opportunity to grow. He’s a good kid with a great attitude, great work ethic. We’ll just have to get him some work here and he how evolves.”

Lagace played for three different teams in the QMJHL last season, posting a 6-14-4 record, 3.79 goals against average and .887 save percentage. He missed extended time with a lower body injury. He’ll turn pro this season.

Jackson: “He had a lot of injuries. He’s turning pro. We’ll have to find a place to get him the net, whether that is in Boise (Idaho Steelheads) or whatever, but we’ll get him a place. He’s got some tools, but he’s had some tough injuries and some challenges, but I think the kid has a pretty good base. Who knows where he goes, we’ll just have to keep working with him.”

Moran, a fourth round pick in 2014, posted a 14-19-2-2 record, 3.85 goals against average and .891 save percentage with Niagara of the Ontario Hockey League this past season. He registered a 3-4 record in the playoffs, ranking sixth in the league in goals against average (2.86) and third in save percentage (.921).

McDonnell: “He sort of took the ball and ran with it in Niagara. He’s a big kid, he’s just kind of got to grow into his body. He carried the Niagara team into the playoffs and was the single reason why they were competitive.”